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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: homeless

The new transitional center for the homeless in Santa Ana is now open

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Santa Ana's Courtyard for the Homeless

Santa Ana’s Courtyard for the Homeless

Transitional Center for Civic Center Homeless Opens

A round-the-clock transitional center with emergency shelter beds and enhanced services for those without permanent housing who have congregated in the Orange County Civic Center has opened at the former Santa Ana Transit Terminal, which has been renamed “The Courtyard.”

About 225 lunches were served after the center opened Wednesday mid-morning; about 100 people reserved space to sleep overnight. Continue reading→

A homeless woman attacked a college student at the DTSA 2nd St. Promenade last week

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana 3 Comments
DTSA 2nd Street Promenade

DTSA 2nd Street Promenade

The homeless problem in Santa Ana is beginning to impact our local schools. In the latest incident, which occurred last Monday at around 6 a.m. in the morning, a female student at the CSUF Grand Central Arts Center was leaving the building, which is in DTSA at the 2nd Street Plaza, when a female homeless person immediately confront the student in an aggressive manner.

The victim asked that the individual leave her alone, but the individual got more aggressive to the point of hitting the student. The student then fled to the parking structure area, in hopes that security at the structure might assist, with the attacking individual still in pursuit. As police were called, the suspect fled before police could arrive and was of course not found once they did finally show up on the scene. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a training exercise in the Civic Center this morning

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment
sapd-training-exercise-400x212

Photo by Igmar Rodas

If you saw the caution tape around Santa Ana’s Civic Center this morning please don’t panic. It is just an SAPD training exercise, according to my sources.

The Civic Center has become a real problem over the past year as the homeless population has exploded. Just a few weeks ago an altercation between SAPD police officers and a homeless man led to a police shooting. The homeless man died as a result of his injuries. Continue reading→

Supervisor Do wants to add 300 beds for overnight stays at the new Civic Center homeless shelter

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Homelessness: Supervisor Andrew Do asks for public’s support for 300-bed homeless shelter

At Tuesday’s meeting, OC to consider $1.4 million contract with Midnight Mission to run 300-bed shelter with 24-7 security 

(Santa Ana, California)— Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is presenting for public input his ambitious plan to turn an abandoned bus terminal into a homeless shelter — within 30 days.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors will vote on a $1.4 million contract with Midnight Mission to run a 300-bed homeless shelter with round-the-clock security as well as job training services, permanent housing options, health care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment and veteran assistance services. Continue reading→

The new County Civic Center Transitional Center for the homeless is opening soon

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Homeless

Transitional Center for Civic Center Homeless Readied for Opening

Comprehensive Civic Center Survey Released

Two contracts for the operation of a round-the-clock transitional center with emergency shelter beds and enhanced services will be considered Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Supervisors for the former Santa Ana Transit Terminal, which has been renamed “The Courtyard.”

The plan to use the former terminal was proposed by Supervisor Andrew Do at a special Board meeting earlier this month, with a directive to open the center within 30 days providing access to showers, food programs, storage and comprehensive service referrals. Public restrooms have been available at the former bus terminal since 2009; in August, the County installed additional portable toilets. Continue reading→

A homeless man pulled a knife on two Madison Elementary students on Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, homeless, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

incident-at-madison-elementary-school

Two students at Madison Elementary School had a knife pulled on them by a homeless male at around 5:40 pm on Tuesday. Madison is located at 1124 E Hobart St, Santa Ana, CA 92707.

The students were not injured, and SAUSD School Police responded quickly to apprehend the suspect. The homeless male was from Pomona and had a warrant out for his arrest. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council has approved a new Civic Center Safety and Security Program

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The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved their new Civic Center Safety and Security Program at their meeting last night, according to the O.C. Register.

Two weeks after City Council members declared a “public health and safety homeless crisis” at the Civic Center, they’ve approved a program with the county to enhance safety and security in the area. Continue reading→

The founder of the O.C. Rescue Mission will be honored by the Santa Ana City Council

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Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Whitehead

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Whitehead

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Mayor Pulido & Councilwoman Martinez Honor Reverend Lewis Whitehead, Founder and Former Director of The Orange County Rescue Mission

Mayor Miguel Pulido and Councilwoman Michele Martinez will present, posthumously, the Exceptional Citizen Award to Reverend Lewis Whitehead, founder and former director of the Orange County Rescue Mission whom provided over 25 years of outstanding services, community leadership and many contributions to the City of Santa Ana, at tomorrow’s City Council Meeting.

Before making it his life’s goal to help homeless individuals, Reverend Lewis Whitehead served 20 years in the Marine Corps, then became a member of the First Baptist Church in Santa Ana and was ordained as a minister in 1962, ministering to the poor. From then on he pledged his life to serve the least, the last, and the lost. Often, he would go under freeway overpasses to give homeless individuals blankets, food, prayer and love. Continue reading→

Salvation Army to celebrate the grand opening of their Santa Ana Hospitality House on 11/21

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mayor-pulido-center-and-salvation-army-staff

Salvation Army to Celebrate the Grand Opening of their Hospitality House

By: Mayor Miguel Pulido

Mayor Miguel Pulido is pleased to join The Salvation Army in celebrating the grand opening of the newly remodeled emergency men’s homeless shelter, Hospitality House, on Monday, November 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.

Located at 818 East Third Street in Santa Ana, the shelter has been expanded to hold 75 beds and will include updated amenities, meeting rooms and new administration space for social service programs. The Hospitality House is the only year-round men’s homeless shelter in Orange County. Last year, 224 Hospitality House clients entered the Salvation Army’s assistance programs and averaged an 80 percent achievement rate on their goals including vocational training and finding stable housing. Continue reading→

Time to clean up Santa Ana’s Civic Center, on 9/17

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clean-up-the-santa-ana-civic-center

Something awesome is going to happen! Working and partnering with our homeless and community! Together we’re going to “Turn It Around!”

Join Operation Warm Wishes and our homeless on Saturday, September 17th 2016 at 6:00 a.m as we come together to clean the Santa Ana Civic Center! Continue reading→

The O.C. Supervisors approve $8M for housing for the homeless

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Andrew Do, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County Approves $8 Million in Housing for Homeless, Selects Mercy House to Run Shelter

(Santa Ana, California) — Orange County is taking action on homelessness.

Just one week after adopting Supervisor Andrew Do’s plan to transform a Santa Ana bus terminal into a transitional homeless shelter, the Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved $8 million to provide housing for people who currently living on the streets or at risk of becoming homeless. Continue reading→

SAPD detectives have identified a 17-year old stabbing victim from Tustin

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Identify 17 Year Old Victim In Stabbing Death

Victim/Deceased: Jesus Daniel Flores (17) Tustin

On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at 12:51 PM, SAPD Officers responded to a report of a stabbing, which occurred in the riverbed at 1st Street west of Fairview Street. The Officers discovered a 17-year old male suffering a stab wound to his upper torso. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 1:32 PM. Continue reading→

Orange County approves Supervisor Do’s plan to turn a vacant DTSA bus terminal into a homeless shelter

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Crime, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Homelessness: Orange County Approves Supervisor Andrew Do’s Plan to Turn Bus Terminal into Transitional Homeless Shelter

(Santa Ana, California)— At a special meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, a unanimous board approved Supervisor Andrew Do’s plan to turn the Santa Ana Transit Terminal into a transitional homeless shelter.

“Our community is tired of talk; Orange County wants action,” said Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who has made tackling homelessness his primary focus during his eighteen months on the board. “By turning this transit terminal into a homeless shelter, we are creating a safe place to help Orange County’s homeless get off the streets and onto a productive path.” Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council explains why they think the homeless problem is the County’s fault

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 1, 2016

CONTACT: Alma Flores, Communications Manager, City of Santa Ana (714) 647-5200, aflores@santa-ana.org

Mayor Pro Tem Sarmiento along with Councilmembers Martinez and Reyna Seek to Declare Public Health and Safety Crisis Related to Homelessness

Urging County of Orange to Open Former Transit Terminal for Homeless Services

Santa Ana, CA – Facing mounting public health and safety impacts in the Civic Center and throughout Santa Ana, Mayor Pro Tem Vicente Sarmiento, Councilwoman Michele Martinez and Councilmember Roman Reyna will bring forward a resolution before the Santa Ana City Council declaring a public health and safety crisis related to the large concentration of homeless and urging the County of Orange to take immediate action to provide services to the homeless at the Santa Ana Transit Terminal which the County owns and controls. The item will appear on the September 6th Council Agenda for consideration of the full City Council. The resolution also calls for a number of improvements to enhance public health and safety within the Civic Center and for the support of all Orange County cities to adopt a resolution encouraging action by the County of Orange. Continue reading→

Poll – what should we do about the homeless problem in Santa Ana?

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Civic Affairs, Crime, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment
What should we do about the homeless in Santa Ana?

Santa Ana City Council Member Michele Martinez, who is running for the First District of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, appeared on the John and Ken radio show yesterday afternoon, on AM 640. I don’t think she knew in advance that John and Ken are conservatives – and they only invite politicians onto their show to embarrass them. The interview was hard to listen to as John and Ken yelled at Martinez throughout the interview and barely let her get a word in edgewise. You can hear the interview here.

The issue they were upset about is the homeless problem at Santa Ana’s Civic Center. If you have not been out there recently you will be amazed and disgusted by the situation. Our Civic Center has essentially become a homeless camp with trash and human waste all over the place. The matter has been somewhat improved with the addition of more portable bathrooms but it is still far from optimal and is certainly not safe for those who have business at the Civic Center. Continue reading→